as somebody who worked full-time when i was in the witness religion, this topic naturally caught my eye.. many of the responses are heartfelt.
there are about 90 at this point.
from what i read so far.. many are people who woke up before they got old but even these are resentful over their life being derailed with wasted time pursuing spiritual goals and having to start over at a later age getting an education/job.. i imagine born-in young jws would be most susceptible to this.. in today’s world, a ‘career’ is something that earns you a living.. as many of the responses there will say: anybody who pursues ‘spiritual goals’ only will end up with wasted time in the end with no money and no retirement plan… i couldn’t agree more.. it would be a shame if this happens to yet more jws..
I have read that as a Christian your priorities are God , spouse, children , parents , work , church in that order.
Having God first in your life doesn't mean abandoning your responsibilities to those around you . It means discharging those responsibilities with love, integrity and honesty in a balanced way .
Making time to meet with other Christians for worship and learning is important . However working for the church shouldn't mean that you abandon your earthly duties .
Jan from Tam
this was prompted by some comments in another thread, but since it was somewhat "off" the original topic, i'm posting/asking seperately.... i was born in 1960, and baptized as a infant in a catholic church.
obviously i have no personal memory of this, and only know, because i was told, and we had a family photo of my parents holding me before the baptismal font while the priest prepared to do the sprinkling.
i was taken probably no more than 3 times to the catholic church in my early childhood and had no clue as to what was going on.. from the ages of 10 to 12 i attended a methodist sunday school, rarely the actual church service, but sang with the class in an annual christmas presentation in the church.. in the 1980s, studying with jehovah's witnesses, and considering baptism, i was told i had to write a letter to any religious group i had previously been involved with, stating i no longer wished any contact, wanted to be removed from their membership lists and witnessing as to why...(separation from satan's world, false religion, babylon etc.).
Thank you
Jan from Tam
this was prompted by some comments in another thread, but since it was somewhat "off" the original topic, i'm posting/asking seperately.... i was born in 1960, and baptized as a infant in a catholic church.
obviously i have no personal memory of this, and only know, because i was told, and we had a family photo of my parents holding me before the baptismal font while the priest prepared to do the sprinkling.
i was taken probably no more than 3 times to the catholic church in my early childhood and had no clue as to what was going on.. from the ages of 10 to 12 i attended a methodist sunday school, rarely the actual church service, but sang with the class in an annual christmas presentation in the church.. in the 1980s, studying with jehovah's witnesses, and considering baptism, i was told i had to write a letter to any religious group i had previously been involved with, stating i no longer wished any contact, wanted to be removed from their membership lists and witnessing as to why...(separation from satan's world, false religion, babylon etc.).
Blondie , no you never said that God is dead . You made the comment that " the amount of regular church going people has decreased a great deal " . I know that many see this ( and some hope ) that religion is dying out , that people are leaving behind the primitive belief in the flying spaghetti monster and that rationality is breaking out in humanity.
My rather clumsy comment was a reply to those people.
It's interesting that you say that the WT does get some Biblical interpretation correct . What are the things that you think there are correct about ? How were you able to help that lady ?
Tbh l do tend to think that the Witnesses have most stuff wrong . I am happy to be put straight on that .
Jan
martyrs ascend to heaven, the 144,000 are preserved.
many believers wonder about who truly ascends to heaven after death.
some hold that all believers go to heaven, while others believe only the 144,000 ascend.
Thanks TonusOH
Jam from Tam
this was prompted by some comments in another thread, but since it was somewhat "off" the original topic, i'm posting/asking seperately.... i was born in 1960, and baptized as a infant in a catholic church.
obviously i have no personal memory of this, and only know, because i was told, and we had a family photo of my parents holding me before the baptismal font while the priest prepared to do the sprinkling.
i was taken probably no more than 3 times to the catholic church in my early childhood and had no clue as to what was going on.. from the ages of 10 to 12 i attended a methodist sunday school, rarely the actual church service, but sang with the class in an annual christmas presentation in the church.. in the 1980s, studying with jehovah's witnesses, and considering baptism, i was told i had to write a letter to any religious group i had previously been involved with, stating i no longer wished any contact, wanted to be removed from their membership lists and witnessing as to why...(separation from satan's world, false religion, babylon etc.).
Blondie , apologies for the extremely late reply .
So when you were a JW a lady from a non JW church was having a study with you . Is that correct ?
I cannot comment on why she would do that. I would have thought that anyone with even a basic knowledge of the Bible would realise that the JW interpretation was bunkum .
It's sad that the lady didn't seem to be getting good teaching from her own church. Maybe she was just looking for something else .
I have been reading lately that church attendance has grown somewhat recently, including at my own parish church .
God isn't dead.
Jan from Tam
martyrs ascend to heaven, the 144,000 are preserved.
many believers wonder about who truly ascends to heaven after death.
some hold that all believers go to heaven, while others believe only the 144,000 ascend.
I said that being a Christian means making him the King of your life .
JWs make the Governing Body the King's of their lives .
Jan from Tam
martyrs ascend to heaven, the 144,000 are preserved.
many believers wonder about who truly ascends to heaven after death.
some hold that all believers go to heaven, while others believe only the 144,000 ascend.
Why do JWs often sign letters
" With CHRISTIAN love . " ?
Jan from Tam
martyrs ascend to heaven, the 144,000 are preserved.
many believers wonder about who truly ascends to heaven after death.
some hold that all believers go to heaven, while others believe only the 144,000 ascend.
I follow the Master. He is the one in whom salvation is found , the one who paid the price for sin.
Jan from Tam
martyrs ascend to heaven, the 144,000 are preserved.
many believers wonder about who truly ascends to heaven after death.
some hold that all believers go to heaven, while others believe only the 144,000 ascend.
I am a Christian, not a JW , and we teach that people are saved by believing that Jesus died to pay the price of sin , repenting of their sins and making Jesus the king of their lives. That means following HIS teachings not those of a group of human beings who are constantly getting " new light " ie changing their minds .
Jan from Tam
does anyone have any information about a relaxing of the rules regarding family reaching out to disfellowshipped members?.
i've heard of an elder being openly in touch with a long time disfellowshipped family member.
apparently the term 'compassionate view' had been bandied about.. i can't find anything relating to this.. i'd be interested what the new rule is in when came into play.. hotb .
So you can only be " removed" for 90 days?
Jan from Tam
